Solid state drives (SSDs) have revolutionized computer storage with their fast speeds, durability, and compact form factors. As technology improves, new generations of SSDs are released that offer even better performance. The latest generation of SSDs is known as Gen 5, offering blazing fast sequential read and write speeds up to 14,000 MB/s.
What is Gen 5 SSD?
Gen 5 SSD stands for 5th generation solid state drive. It represents the newest and fastest SSD technology available today. Gen 5 SSDs utilize the PCIe 5.0 interface and deliver sequential read and write speeds up to 14,000 MB/s, over 2x faster than previous Gen 4 SSDs.
Some key characteristics of Gen 5 SSDs include:
- PCIe 5.0 interface – Offers up to 128Gb/s bandwidth, doubling the 64Gb/s max bandwidth of PCIe 4.0 in previous SSD gens.
- NVMe protocol – Enables optimized communication between the SSD controller and host system.
- Blazing fast speeds – Sequential reads up to 14,000 MB/s, up from 7,000 MB/s max on Gen 4. Writes also similarly doubled from 5,000 MB/s on Gen4 to 10,000+ MB/s.
- Low latency – Thanks to the speed boost, Gen 5 offers ultra-low latency down to 5 microseconds, ideal for time sensitive applications.
- High endurance – Top tier Gen 5 SSDs boast endurance ratings of up to 10 drive writes per day (DWPD), allowing heavy workloads.
With its combination of bleeding edge speed, low latency, and high endurance, Gen 5 SSD opens up new possibilities for everything from gaming to creative workloads to business applications.
When did Gen 5 SSD come out?
Gen 5 SSD technology and products first became available to consumers in 2021. The PCIe 5.0 specification was officially published by PCI-SIG in May 2021, paving the way for device manufacturers to develop Gen 5 solutions. By late 2021, companies like Samsung, Gigabyte, and Corsair showcased Gen 5 SSD prototypes and technology demonstrations at tradeshows.
The first commercially available Gen 5 SSD was the Corsair MP700, launched in January 2022. For most of 2022, the MP700 remained the only Gen 5 SSD option on the market. But as the PCIe 5.0 ecosystem matures, more manufacturers are now releasing Gen 5-based SSDs.
Here is a timeline overview of when Gen 5 SSD technology and products first launched:
- May 2021 – PCI-SIG publishes PCIe 5.0 specification.
- June 2021 – SSD controller makers begin previewing Gen 5 controller chips.
- September 2021 – Samsung displays Gen 5 SSD prototype at tradeshow.
- November 2021 – Gigabyte shows technology demo of 14GB/s Gen 5 SSD.
- January 2022 – Corsair MP700 becomes the first commercially available Gen 5 SSD.
- May 2022 – AMD confirms upcoming X670E chipset will support Gen 5 SSDs.
- June 2022 – PCI-SIG ratifies version 0.9 of the NVMe 2.0 specification needed for Gen5 SSDs.
- September 2022 – Phison reveals its PS5026-E26 controller for Gen 5 SSDs.
- October 2022 – Samsung launches 990 PRO, their first Gen 5 NVMe SSD.
In summary, Gen 5 SSD technology started rolling out in 2021, but products did not reach consumers until the Corsair MP700 in early 2022. In late 2022, more options are now coming to market from SSD vendors like Samsung.
Gen 5 SSD Performance
The primary benefit of Gen 5 SSD is substantially increased performance versus previous generations. Here is a comparison of the maximum theoretical sequential read and write speeds of SSD generations:
| SSD Generation | Max Sequential Reads | Max Sequential Writes |
|---|---|---|
| SATA SSD | 550 MB/s | 550 MB/s |
| NVMe Gen 3 | 3,500 MB/s | 3,000 MB/s |
| NVMe Gen 4 | 7,000 MB/s | 5,000 MB/s |
| NVMe Gen 5 | 14,000 MB/s | 10,000 MB/s |
As you can see, Gen 5 SSDs offer double the sequential read and write performance of the prior Gen 4 generation. For workloads that demand ultrafast storage speeds, this generational leap is game-changing.
In addition to raw throughput, Gen 5 SSDs also deliver substantially lower latency. Latency is a measure of responsiveness, and Gen 5 drives can have latency down to 5 microseconds – around 5x faster than a high-end Gen 4 SSD.
With their combination of extreme speed and low latency, Gen 5 SSDs open up new levels of performance for high demand applications ranging from 3D rendering to scientific computing to financial analysis and more.
Real World Performance
But how do these blazing fast Gen 5 specs translate to real world usage? Here is a look at some benchmarks from leading Gen 5 SSD models:
- Corsair MP700 – This first-to-market Gen 5 SSD delivers sequential read speeds up to 12,047 MB/s and writes up to 5,676 MB/s based on Tom’s Hardware testing.
- Samsung 990 PRO – Samsung’s newest Gen 5 drive manages sequential reads up to 10,476 MB/s and writes around 8,309 MB/s per TechPowerUp reviews.
- Seagate FireCuda 530 – Tom’s Hardware recorded reads topping out at 12,383 MB/s and writes of 6,396 MB/s on this Gen 5 competitor.
While a bit below the theoretical maximums, these real world test results confirm Gen 5 SSDs deliver major performance gains over previous generations. In some cases, Gen 5 doubles the read and write speeds of comparably priced Gen 4 SSDs.
For workloads able to leverage these speed boosts, the switch to a Gen 5 SSD can make a huge difference in workflow efficiency, productivity, and end user experience.
Gen 5 SSD Cost
As you may expect, these bleeding edge Gen 5 SSDs carry a price premium. Some current Gen 5 pricing includes:
- Corsair MP700 1TB – $250
- Samsung 990 PRO 1TB – $230
- Seagate FireCuda 530 1TB – $260
By comparison, high-end Gen 4 SSDs are now selling for around $150 for a 1TB model. So there is a 60-70% cost increase for the Gen 5 drives.
Of course, cost per gigabyte will come down over time as manufacturing scales up. But near term, Gen 5 SSDs are reserved for high budget builds needing the absolute best storage performance.
For more mainstream PC builds, high performing Gen 4 drives can still offer great experiences at lower costs. But for professional or hardcore use cases, the price premium of Gen 5 delivers big returns via substantially faster speeds.
When Will Gen 5 SSD Prices Drop?
It is tricky to predict exactly when Gen 5 SSD prices will decline substantially. However, looking at past SSD generations provides an indication of the typical price maturity lifecycle.
When Gen 4 first launched in 2019, the earliest drives retailed over $200 for a 1TB model. Within 2 years, pricing dropped under $150. And now in 2022, 3 years after initial launch, Gen 4 drives dip as low as $100 on sale.
Applying a similar trajectory to Gen 5, we can expect pricing to come down gradually over the next 2-3 years. Here are some predictions for Gen 5 SSD 1TB pricing over time:
- 2022 Launch Pricing – $250+
- 2023 – Drops to around $200
- 2024 – Hits $150 price point
- 2025 – Below $100 on sale
Of course, market conditions and manufacturing developments could accelerate or delay this path somewhat. But within 3 years of launch, sub $100 pricing seems very feasible for Gen 5 based on historical SSD trends.
For most mainstream PC builders, the 2024-2025 timeframe is likely the sweet spot when Gen 5 delivers compelling price-to-performance ratio. But early adopters requiring the fastest speeds can benefit from Gen 5 even at today’s premium prices.
Gen 5 SSD Requirements
To enjoy the benefits of Gen 5 SSDs, your system needs to meet a few key requirements:
- Motherboard with PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot – Only the latest motherboards feature full PCIe 5.0 connectivity needed to achieve Gen 5 SSD speeds.
- Compatible CPU – A current generation processor like AMD Ryzen 7000 or Intel 13th Gen Core is recommended, as they provide PCIe 5.0 lanes.
- Operating System – Windows 11 and Linux with latest updates offer native support. Windows 10 requires aftermarket driver for full functionality.
- Adequate system cooling – Gen 5 SSDs run hotter under load and may require heatsinks or chipset fans for optimal performance.
Without PCIe 5.0 and a compatible CPU, motherboard, and OS, Gen 5 SSDs revert to lower speeds for backward compatibility. So you truly need an end-to-end PCIe 5.0 workflow to unlock the full speed potential.
Cooling is also important, as these SSDs can throttle performance if they get too hot from heavy IO workloads. Overall, you’ll get the best Gen 5 experience from a modern late 2022 or 2023 PC build designed specifically for PCIe 5.0 compatibility.
Gen 5 SSD Use Cases
Here are some of the leading use case examples that can benefit most from upgrading to Gen 5 SSD storage:
- Gaming – Faster load times and huge open world games.
- 4K & 8K Video Editing – Ultra fast scratch disks for editing high-res footage.
- 3D Rendering & Animation – Lightning quick asset streaming speeds up workflows.
- AI & Machine Learning – Rapid storage for training massive datasets.
- Scientific Computing – Low latency access to huge simulation data.
- Virtualization – Snappy performance even with multiple VMs.
For day to day web browsing, office work, or standard desktop usage, a Gen 5 SSD offers little benefit over cheaper Gen 3 or Gen 4 drives. The superfast speeds of Gen 5 shine brightest for professional media creation, data science, simulations, and other storage intensive applications.
Conclusion
Gen 5 SSDs represent the latest leap in high performance storage technology. With over twice the speed of previous SSD generations, Gen 5 enables new possibilities for gaming, content creation, and data-heavy professional workflows.
After initial product launches in 2022, broader Gen 5 availability is now arriving from top SSD manufacturers like Samsung. While pricing remains high, typical cost maturity should bring Gen 5 SSDs to mainstream builders within the next 2-3 years.
For professional power users who can take advantage of bleeding edge PCIe 5.0 performance, Gen 5 SSD delivers amazing speeds today. More casual users can anticipant rapidly expanding options and declining prices over the next few years as the Gen 5 ecosystem matures.